Gaming summit aims to grow as industry experts look to better regulation
Monday 22nd May 2006
The 8th annual GIGSE has finished in Montreal, with industry experts working on further ways to protect online gamers and organisers hoping that the event’s continuing growth will help it challenge the games industry’s E3 summit.
GIGSE was founded in 1996 by Sue Schneider and River City Group. It has grown from 300 attendees at the first show in 1999 to 1,800 registered delegates and over 150 stands.
Issues discussed at last week’s event, by a panel of industry watchdogs and players, included self-regulation and widespread distrust of online casinos.
American Gaming Association research has shown that the majority of players believe online gaming sites cheat. This has been backed by a Harris Interactive survey showing 75% of online adults think that online gambling is unsafe. According to the survey players need to have more reassurance about the sites they pay their money to, the industry needs to tighten self regulation and face up to the problem of addiction.
“There has never been a greater need for the operators and software providers to come together and adopt a gold standard for player protection,' said Andrew Beveridge, panellist and CEO of self-regulatory body, eCOGRA.
The 8th annual GIGSE has finished in Montreal, with industry experts working on further ways to protect online gamers and organisers hoping that the event’s continuing growth will help it challenge the games industry’s E3 summit.